It takes an enormous amount of effort to leave the harbor where you've been anchored for several months. There are endless chores to make the boat sea ready rather than beach ready. Beach chairs, umbrellas and kites are stowed at the bottom of the locker while flares, life jackets, and the ditch bag come up to the top. The bottom must be scrubbed. There is one last dinghy ride to town for food, fuel and water. Always one more farewell cocktail party or dinner. So many goodbyes! You start getting up early to gather weather reports. You pick THE day. You start to get the jitters. Do you even remember how to sail? Does everything on the boat still work? Before you know it other boats have gotten wind of your plans and now there is a meeting at the beach to plan the voyage as eight boats are going too. Really, you need a meeting to go on a 50 mile sail? You skip the meeting and keep preparing. Finally it's dawn on THE day! You didn't sleep a wink, but it's 6 am, last chore walk the dog on the moon lit beach and hoist the dinghy on deck. There is a last minute radio discussion on the weather. Go or no go? It might be rough in the new anchorage. Too bad the anchor is up, the sail is hoisted. You're finally free and off to new adventures!